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Ikenga Ugochinyere begs Tinubu to discontinue Kanu’s trial

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Ikenga Ugochinyere
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Some South East members of the House of Representatives, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, have called on President Bola Tinubu to invoke the relevant sections of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

They also noted that the dismissal of Kanu’s bail application was another major setback for the healing process and return of peace in the region.

Justice Binta Nyako had on Tuesday rejected Kanu’s bail request, and granted an accelerated hearing on the matter.

Speaking on behalf of other South East lawmakers who were in court, Ugochinyere stated that granting Kanu bail would have provided an opportunity to open doors for discussion to bring about peace in the South East.

 

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato South and North in the House of Representatives, however, appealed to the president to extend the same gesture as he did to Sunday Igboho as well as Omoyele Sowore.

He said, “We received the news of the rejection of the bail with sadness, and we just lost an opportunity to commence the process of healing in our land.

“That bail application, if granted, would have brought an opportunity to open doors for discussion to bring about peace in the South East.

“Just a few weeks back, the Federal Government discontinued the criminal charge filed against Omoyele Sowore. I’m also aware that the Federal Government has allowed Sunday Igboho back home.

“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu not to allow this moment pass him by. What the President should do and the Attorney-General in particular, is to invoke the power invested on him under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to discontinue the matter. The case can be discontinued in the interest of the public and justice.

“It is also painful for us that this bail application was rejected and we hope that President Tinubu will do the needful by discontinuing the matter.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ejected the bail application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, however, granted an accelerated hearing instead.

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Regina Daniels Reflects on Her Life Journey

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Nigerian actress Regina Daniels has navigated beyond the controversy surrounding her marriage to billionaire and senator Ned Nwoko.

The mother of two recently shared captivating photos on Instagram, showcasing herself on a luxurious flight with her husband and their children.

In her post, she discussed the various activities that have been occupying her time. Regina highlighted that this constant movement is a defining aspect of her life, captioning her post:

“Story of my life – Always on the move.”

Photo source: Instagram

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#Endbadgovernance Protesters Face Trial For Treason, Court Hearing On September 11

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters in custody.

On Monday, nine male protesters were sent to Kuje Prison, while one female protester was remanded in Suleja Prison. The court has scheduled their trial and ruling on bail applications for September 11.

The protesters, who were arraigned on charges of treason, mutiny, and intent to destabilize Nigeria, include Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent.

Others facing charges are Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu. All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the six charges brought against them, which include conspiracy to commit felony, inciting mutiny, and waging war against the state—offenses punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The protesters are accused of attempting to intimidate President Bola Tinubu by allegedly attacking police officers, burning police stations, and damaging government and private property during the demonstrations.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, were sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s economic policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of forex windows.

The protesters also called for measures to address food shortages, unemployment, and government waste, as well as reforms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Responding to the arraignment, Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi condemned the trials as “sham” and called for the immediate release of the detained protesters.Sanusi criticized the government for prioritizing the punishment of protesters over investigating the deaths of several demonstrators across various states, including Kano, Katsina, and Maiduguri, during the protests.

The police reported seven deaths related to the protests but denied that security forces were responsible for any of the fatalities.

 

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6 Things to Know About Nigeria’s New Presidential Jet, From “Previous Users” And “Age” To “Cost”

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6 Things to Know About Nigeria’s New Presidential Jet, From “Previous Users” And “Age” To “Cost”
Happenings Aug 23 Shelmani
Nigeria is third user of new presidential jet, here are six (6) things to know about the 15 year old Airbus A330-200.

An Airbus A330-200 this week joined the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), barely a month after the Nigerian House of Representatives’ Committee on National Security and Intelligence recommended procuring a new one due to high maintenance costs and operational issues with the current fleet.

Here are six (6) things to know about the the latest addition to the Presidential Air Fleet.

1) Tinubu’s First Trip Aboard New Presidential Jet

The new presidential jet, the Airbus A330 registered with 5N-FGA was used for the very first time by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday August 19th for his trip to Paris, France.

2) Replaced 19-year-old Boeing B737-700

It replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) registered with 5N-FGT, which was handed over to the FG in 2005 during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

3) It Is A 15 year old Aircraft

The latest addition isn’t brand new so to speak as Nigerian Government is the third user. It was originally delivered in 2009 to Saudi Arabia’s Midroc Aviation, who operated it for 12 years before it was ac­quired by AMAC Aerospace in April 2021.

4) To Save On Maintenance, Fuel Costs

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the A330 features modern avionics and communications systems, adding that it will save on maintenance and fuel costs.

5) Cost : N150 Billion Naira ($150 million).

While the presidency is mute on how much was paid for the presidential jet, local newspapers alleged that the FG paid $100m for it and splashed another $50m to retrofit it with state-of-the-art gadgets.

6) Cost Of Brand New Model

While FG reportedly spent about $150 million to buy and upgrade the new presidential jet to its taste, a brand new Airbus A330-200 is listed for $238.5 million while the 330neo costs in the region of $290 million to $300 million.

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